Steel is essential for heavy-duty transport and infrastructure but accounts for 7-9 percent of global CO₂ emissions. While highly recyclable, that process of recycling is still resource and energy-intensive. Therefore, enhancing steel durability is key to reducing environmental impact. Hempel customer TII SCHEUERLE, a leader in heavy-duty transport, needed a coating system that provided superior durability, faster processing, and reduced environmental impact. The aim was to replace their conventional coating with a more efficient system, improving production efficiency, reducing application times, and achieving sustainability goals without compromising on corrosion protection.

In 2021, TII SCHEUERLE switched to Hempel’s Avantguard for all commercial vehicles. Avantguard enhances steel durability through activated zinc primer technology. By fully activating zinc particles, it provides a triple anti-corrosion mechanism – barrier, galvanic, and inhibitor effects – reducing material usage and improving efficiency and sustainability while extending steel’s lifecycle and performance. 

The Avantguard corrosion protection system has enabled TII SCHEUERLE to reduce energy consumption by 25 percent, improve production speed and lower VOC emissions by 25 percent. The success of the new coating system is largely due to its simplified application process, fewer layers, less rework, and the fast curing time. With support from Hempel’s global technical service team and coating advisors, a large number of subcontractors in various countries have been trained in the use of Hempel products to ensure uniform coating quality.